I'm considering making the switch from Windows to Ubuntu on my old PC, which has a 1080 GPU. The only thing that's stopping me is the hassle of installing drivers, since I suspect they might not be well supported for older hardware. I also have only one storage drive, so I want to avoid the complications of dual booting. How much of a pain will it be to install the necessary drivers for my GPU?
5 Answers
You really won’t face much of a challenge. You're likely able to install Ubuntu without worrying too much about drivers. Just keep in mind Nvidia might require a little extra effort, but even that's manageable. If you run into issues, it’s often as simple as looking for the right driver in the Driver Manager.
Well, based on my experience, older Nvidia cards can sometimes give you trouble with driver compatibility, but it's worth a shot. Plus, I've had good luck with Ubuntu; usually, everything just works out of the box. Take a look at the easy installation instructions—they really can save you a lot of time.
Honestly, it shouldn't be painful at all! Most of the time, when you install Ubuntu, it automatically detects your hardware and installs the drivers for you. However, if you have secure boot, just remember to register a MOK key. It's a one-time thing during setup. If anything goes wrong, Ubuntu has a strong community ready to help you fix driver issues.
In short, very little to no pain! If you're using Ubuntu, it's often as easy as installing everything during setup or a few clicks after. Just check your hardware compatibility beforehand to avoid any surprises. If you're really hesitant, you might want to try a live USB session before committing to the full installation.
It's generally not a big deal! Most drivers, especially for common hardware, are included in the Linux kernel, but Nvidia drivers are a bit special. You’ll need to install those separately, but it's pretty straightforward on Ubuntu. Just head to Software & Updates, find the 'Additional Drivers' section, and you can install what you need with a couple of clicks.
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